Singing Guide: Modest Mouse
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Singer Issac Brock of Modest Mouse has developed a unique style that blends distorted guitar riffs with vocal melodies that sometimes resemble talking. Brock often employs a yelping or shouting vocal technique that stands out as part of his unmistakable style. Modest Mouse has a broad range of songs you can learn from. Some of their most popular songs include "Float On," "Dashboard," and "Ocean Breathes Salty."
To sing like Issac Brock, you should start by analyzing your own voice. In our article "How to analyze your voice" you will learn about identifying your vocal range and voice type. This is a great starting point to understand your voice and how it compares to the voice of Issac Brock and other singers. Modest Mouse's songs typically require a mid-range voice with some upper-range capabilities.
Breathing is crucial to singing. Singers should breathe properly and develop "respiration muscles" in their abdomen, upper chest, ribs, and neck. In our article "Breathing basics" you can learn the essentials of breathing and take practical advice on how to develop these muscles. Proper breathing will improve your tone, breath control, and overall performance.
To learn some general techniques and improve the voice quality suitable for singing like Brock, try our pitch accuracy test and pitch training tools. Modest Mouse uses a lot of strange phrasing and syncopation in their songs, so it is important to get the timing right when you practice.
Issac Brock often employs a shouting and yelping vocal technique in his singing. These techniques are clearly demonstrated in songs like "The World at Large" and "Dashboard." You may want to study the Contemporary vocal techniques: Heavy modal, Twang, Belting article and then watch the How to Twang Exercise video to practice and master these techniques. There is also a Vocal distortion & Growling article that might be useful for you.
Articulation is an essential component of singing. To improve your articulation, read our article "Articulation." It provides tips on how to pronounce words clearly and effectively while singing to convey emotions.
Finally, it's important to learn how to perform on stage. Modest Mouse is known for their high-energy live performances, so if you plan on showcasing your singing talents, you'll want to read our tips on performing in public in our article "Tips for performing on stage."
Overall, singing like Issac Brock of Modest Mouse requires mastering specific techniques and analyzing your voice to identify your vocal range. Practicing regularly with the help of the right resources, such as the Singing Carrots platform, will help you develop your skills and improve your singing performance.